Dr. Post moved to Raleigh in 1998 and has been practicing at Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center for 25 years.
Independence and Quality Care: What Sets Our Practice Apart
He believes that being part of a medical practice that has grown along with the city has been one of the most fulfilling parts of his career. “Our practice is unique in that we have grown but remain completely independent of hospital systems and larger orthopedic practices. This allows us to have a centrally located office dedicated to our goal of provided quality and cost effective care for our patients.”
Making a Difference Beyond Medicine: Dr. Post’s Philanthropic Endeavors
Outside of work, Dr. Post is active in the Midtown Kiwanis and has been past president of the club. He has been involved in Medical Mission work traveling to Nicaragua to educate residents and perform surgeries. He states “The physicians in the practice are like minded in that mission trips and giving back to the community are important to us.”
Life Beyond the Clinic
Dr. Post is married to Angie and has two children, Ryan and Shannon, and two grandchildren, Parker and Jack. His greatest joy in his personal life is spending time with family, and he travels frequently to visit his grandchildren. His hobbies include golfing and fishing.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Raleigh Hand and Shoulder Specialist
Contact Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center and schedule an appointment with Dr. Post today.
Get started today by filling out the form on the right-hand side of this page. You can also give us a call directly using the phone call buttonand schedule an appointment button, both located at the top of this page.
Dr. James Post of Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center discussed basial thumb arthritis (thumb CMC joint) at WakeMed Raleigh hand conference on Monday June 12, 2023.
Understanding Basal Thumb Arthritis and Treatment Options
Treatment options including non-surgical treatment, hand therapy, injections, splints, and surgical options were discussed.
Contact Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center for Basal Thumb Arthritis Treatment in NC
If you need to discuss treatment options with an orthopedic surgeon such as Dr. Post who specializes in basal thumb arthritis, contact our Raleigh orthopedic surgery center now.
Get started today by filling out the form on the right-hand side of this page. You can also give us a call directly using the phone call buttonand schedule an appointment button, both located at the top of this page.
The Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center now offers in-office ultrasound to aid in the treatment of various hand and arm conditions. This cutting-edge device has allowed us to deliver point of care diagnostic and therapeutic techniques that were previously not possible.
Advantages of In-Office Ultrasound for Hand and Arm Conditions
ultrasound at Raleigh Hand to Shoulder
In-office ultrasound has benefits for both expediting care and lowering healthcare costs to the patient. In some instances, we are able to perform diagnostic evaluation of a joint or other body part without the need for an expensive MRI or other advanced imaging study. Likewise, in office ultrasound has been shown to be as effective as nerve conduction studies for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.
In-Office Ultrasound: Empowering Diagnosis and Treatment
Some patients can not have MRI scans or CT scans performed due to previous implants in the body. The in office ultrasound machine allows us to provide diagnostic capabilities to those patients in a safe, timely, and cost-effective manner.
Enhanced Patient Experience: Ultrasound at Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center
Some therapeutic steroid injections require advanced imaging to accurately place the needle. For instance, shoulder joint injections are sometimes performed with X-ray needle localization, which is typically done at a radiologist’s office. In many cases, we can avoid this referral by providing the injection under ultrasound guidance on the day of the office visit.
Affordable Excellence: High-Quality, Low-Cost Care with In-Office Ultrasound
The fees associated with ultrasound techniques performed in the office are significantly lower than other options. At the Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center, we are proud to offer high quality, low cost care to our patients. The addition of in-office ultrasound allows us to further enhance our ability to achieve this goal.
Contact Our Raleigh Orthopedic Surgery Center Today and Ask About Our In-Office Ultrasound
Ready to make an appointment for our in-office ultrasound for reliable diagnosis in hand and shoulder treatments in Raleigh?
Get started today by filling out the form on the right-hand side of this page. You can also give us a call directly using the phone call buttonand schedule an appointment button, both located at the top of this page.
A paronychia infection is an infection in the tissue around the fingernail.
Causes and Symptoms of Paronychia Infection
It may be due to bacteria invading a cut/crack in the skin or to trauma such as from pulling a hangnail, biting around one’s nail, or having frequent manicures. Sometimes, there is no identifiable cause. The symptoms of a paronychia infection include redness of the tissues surrounding the nail (most commonly near the base of the nail), pain, warmth, swelling, and possible drainage. A white-yellow-green material may build up under the nail or nail fold indicating the formation of pus.
Effective Home Remedies for Paronychia Fingernail Infections
Treatment of paronychia fingernail infections consists of warm water soaks, with or without soap or Epsom salt. This can help soften the tissues and facilitate drainage if a collection of pus is developing. Warm soaks can also decrease pain and increase blood flow to the area, helping the body fight infection. An over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen can also help relieve pain and inflammation.
Seeking Medical Help for Persistent Paronychia Infections
When these measures fail to result in improvement in the paronychia fingernail infection, a visit to a qualified medical provider for possible oral antibiotics and possible drainage of the infection is recommended. If not properly treated, paronychia infections can result in chronic finger pain, inflammation, and nail problems. When symptoms of paronychia inflammation exist for more than several weeks, it may indicate the development of a fungal infection. In this situation, it would also be beneficial to be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare provider.
Prevention and Care Tips for Healthy Fingernails
Frequent hand washing, clipping a hangnail with a clean scissors or nail clipper (rather than pulling it), avoiding chronic moisture of the fingertips, and moisturizing dry skin with a hypoallergenic hand lotion may help prevent paronychia infections.
Contact Our Raleigh Finger Surgeons Today for Paronychia Treatment
Get started today by filling out the form on the right-hand side of this page. You can also give us a call directly using the phone call buttonand schedule an appointment button, both located at the top of this page.
Looking for a Raleigh Hand Surgeon? Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center doctors are hand surgeons and orthopedic specialists. They are all board-certified in orthopedic surgery and have additional fellowship training in hand and upper extremity care. They take care of patients of all ages who have problems with their hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. They work closely with certified hand therapists (CHT) and physical therapy (PT) in the office to get the best results for their patients. The doctors use the best treatments available to help patients achieve their goals. Whether patients want to relieve pain, recover from an injury, or return to the physical activities they love, the doctors and therapists are here to improve quality of life.
Raleigh Hand to Shoulder doctors are well respected in the Wake County medical community and are among the best hand surgeons and top doctors in the area. The practice has been recognized for its high value to patients: high-quality care at a lower cost. The doctors organize a weekly teaching conference for UNC orthopedic doctors in training at WakeMed Hospital. In addition, they attend regional and national conferences to keep informed of the latest and best treatment options in hand and upper extremity care. Patients can trust they are getting the best treatment possible at Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center.
Raleigh Hand Surgeon doctors do more than just surgery. Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center doctors treat patients with hand and wrist fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve and tendon injuries, as well as shoulder and elbow problems. They treat patients without surgery, perform injections, and prescribe therapy — in addition to surgery when needed. They are members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The doctors are all board-certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgeons. The physicians are Raleigh Hand Orthopedic doctors.
Raleigh Hand Surgeon
The Raleigh Hand Surgeon group has treated patients with hand and upper extremity problems for three decades. From a minor cut to a severe hand injury, we have been specialty-trained to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate patients with a variety of hand and arm problems. The hand is one of the most intricate and delicate areas of the human body, comprised of nineteen bones in addition to joints, tendons, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. As you know, our hands are critical for independent function and livelihood. An alteration in the normal function of the hand can significantly impact a person’s life.
Looking for a Raleigh Hand Surgeon? Look no further than Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center for expert care in the treatment of your hand and arm problem.
Golfers Elbow Pain, or medial epicondylitis, is caused by trauma to the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the inner side of the elbow. This can be related to an acute injury but most often is related to overuse and repetitive stress to the tendon attachment. Although it is often associated with golfers, medial epicondylitis is also prevalent in baseball, weight lifting and throwing sports. Activities involving forceful, repetitive use of the elbow and forearm such as carpentry, painting and landscaping can be associated with the condition in some cases.
Symptoms include pain on the inner side of the elbow often radiating down the forearm. There can be a mild ache at rest worsened with use of the arm. Wrist and elbow flexion with resistance such as lifting boxes, carrying groceries or moving furniture may cause increased pain. The elbow may have a feeling of stiffness and there may be a loss of strength in the arm. Occasionally, irritation of a nerve close by can present with pain radiating into the hand and numbness or tingling in the small and ring fingers.
What are treatments for Golfers elbow pain?
Golfers elbow pain symptoms may be mild requiring no treatment or simply limiting your activities, rest and icing. If symptoms persist, splinting, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications orally or topically, and a home stretching program can be implemented. Supervised occupational therapy (OT) or physical therapy (PT) can be added in cases that do not respond to a home exercise program. Corticosteroid injections and rarely surgery are required in patients who are significantly symptomatic and fail to respond to less invasive treatments.
Treatment of golfers elbow pain and tennis elbow pain is available at Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center. Non-surgical options are available in our office. Surgery is offered at our surgery center, when needed. Our doctors are members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and our OTs are certified hand therapists.
If you have golfers elbow pain and cannot do the things you love, give our office a call to be evaluated by a hand and upper extremity specialist!
Do you have hand pain after punching a wall? It could be a boxers fracture. Boxers fractures are very common hand injuries. The typical cause is striking a hard surface with a clenched fist – such as punching a wall. These injuries can also occur in contact sports, automobile collisions, altercations, or falling to the ground on an outstretched hand.
A boxer’s fracture specifically is a fracture of the fifth metacarpal neck. The hand has five metacarpals, one for each finger and the thumb. The metacarpals make up the bony architecture of the hand between the wrist and the fingers. The fifth metacarpal is at the base of the small finger, or pinkie. The metacarpal neck is the part of the bone between the head and shaft of the metacarpal, closest to the MCP “knuckle” joint.
The most common signs of a boxer’s fracture are pain, bruising, swelling, limited finger range of motion, grip weakness, and deformity. The knuckle can look out of place or missing. The finger can also look deformed or crooked. If these symptoms do not go away within a brief period of observation, patients should be evaluated by a medical professional.
Treatment of boxers fracture
Early treatment for a boxer’s fracture includes resting the hand, immobilization, ice, elevation, and oral anti-inflammatory medications to relieve pain, swelling, and inflammation. Most patients do not require expensive medical treatment or surgery in order to achieve a good functional result. Several studies have shown that most patients benefit from simple treatment and can expect good long-term hand function. However, patients should be advised that there may be a cosmetic difference between the injured and uninjured hands.
Boxers Fracture
Patients with these injuries may benefit from specialized orthopedic care. This treatment includes x-ray evaluation, custom splinting, and hand therapy. Traditionally, many patients have been treated with closed reduction and casting of fifth metacarpal fractures. This involves the use of a local anesthesia injection and manipulation of the fracture site to improve the x-ray alignment. Recent studies have shown us that this procedure may not provide any long-term benefit to patients with mild-to-moderate severity fractures.
In most cases, treatment consists of activity modifications and using a removable splint for 3-6 weeks. As patients heal, they are guided to increase their hand activity within their pain tolerance and progress through a series of range of motion and hand strengthening exercises. Hand therapy is available to help patients regain their pre-injury hand function more quickly. Most patients typically regain normal hand function about 2-3 months following this injury.
Occasionally surgery is recommended for patients with a boxer’s fracture. If there is significant angulation at the fracture site or if the finger is malrotated, surgery can be helpful to realign and stabilize the fractured bone. Complications from surgery include infection, stiffness, scar tissue formation, and possibly the need for additional surgery such as the removal of implants or scar tissue.
A word of caution: not all fifth metacarpal fractures are boxer’s fractures. Inexperienced clinicians often mislabel a fifth metacarpal shaft fracture as a “boxer’s fracture.” Fractures involving the shaft of the metacarpal can result in significant hand impairment if not treated adequately. Consider consultation with an orthopedic hand specialist to guide your hand care appropriately.
The Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center physicians have treated patients with hand and upper extremity problems for three decades. From a minor cut to a severe hand injury, we have been specialty-trained to diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate patients with a variety of hand and arm problems. The hand is one of the most intricate and delicate areas of the human body, comprised of nineteen bones in addition to joints, tendons, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. As you know, our hands are critical for independent function and livelihood. An alteration in the normal function of the hand can significantly impact a person’s life. T
Shoulder Arthritis is inflammation of a joint with loss of cartilage (the smooth surface covering the end of each bone in the joint). In some severe cases, bone spurs can form and wear down the surrounding bone at the joint. There are several forms of arthritis. The most common type is osteoarthritis, which is typical age-related “wear and tear” of the joint also called degenerative arthritis. Other forms of arthritis include autoimmune arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. Post-traumatic arthritis occurs after a serious injury to a joint with damage of the cartilage or after a chronic rotator cuff tear. Infectious arthritis occurs after a joint infection.
Arthritis can affect any joint, including the shoulder. Although arthritis is often painful, occasionally the deterioration of the joint does not cause pain and goes unnoticed. Arthritis is often a gradual process taking years to develop. Typical symptoms of shoulder arthritis include pain with motion of the joint, and sometimes there can be pain at rest. There may be stiffness or limited ability to move the joint and some patients have popping or clicking when moving the joint.
What are the Shoulder Arthritis Treatment options?
Typically, treatment for arthritis includes decreasing the pain and inflammation in more mild cases. Joint replacement is recommended in more severe cases that have not responded to less invasive treatment. Anti-inflammatory medicine such as oral NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen or Meloxicam) can help reduce the pain and inflammation of an arthritic joint. Topical NSAIDs such as Diclofenac or Voltaren Gel are another option to help with arthritis pain, however the shoulder joint is quite deep under muscle, and topical ointments may not be able to penetrate into the joint. Anti-inflammatory supplements such as Glucosamine, turmeric, CBD, or tart cherry extract have helped reduce arthritis pain and inflammation in some people. Cortisone injections are another option to temporarily help the pain from shoulder arthritis. Other treatments include: gentle range of motion exercises, heat, massage, and physical therapy. Typically we do not recommend wearing a sling or immobilizing a shoulder joint with arthritis, as this typically causes worsening stiffness and pain in the shoulder.
Unfortunately there is still no way to regrow cartilage that has been destroyed by arthritis. There is much research on this topic with some hopeful prospects of growing cartilage in a lab to be implanted in the joint and in using stem cells. There are several companies that claim they can regrow your cartilage by injecting stem cells, however this has not proven to be true in independent research studies. It seems that injecting stem cells may help temporarily decrease inflammation and pain, but unfortunately has not been able to regrow cartilage destroyed by arthritis. Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center doctors do not inject stem cells for arthritis.
As a last resort, a total shoulder replacement is an option. For most cases of arthritis an anatomic total shoulder replacement is the best option for patients. However, for patients with arthritis related to a chronic rotator cuff tear, a reverse shoulder replacement is the best option to improve pain and restore motion and function of the shoulder joint. Shoulder replacement surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure in otherwise healthy patients, though some patients may need to spend the night at the facility. After surgery, the shoulder is immobilized for a while in a sling during the initial healing phase (typically 4-6 weeks) and then physical therapy is utilized to regain motion, strength and function of the shoulder.
If you have shoulder pain or think you may have shoulder arthritis, we encourage you to make an appointment with one of our physicians for further evaluation of your problem. Call Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center to be evaluated by a board-certified upper extremity orthopedic surgeon.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common ailments affecting the hands. Wear and tear arthritis within the joints can lead to weakness, deformity, limited range of motion, inflammation, and pain. These symptoms can impair the function of the hand and reduce a person’s quality of life. Conventional medical treatments for hand osteoarthritis in the United States include oral anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), oral acetaminophen, topical medications, splints, hand therapy, and corticosteroid injections. Opioid medications are prescribed less frequently for this condition due to the concern for adverse effects, addiction, and overdose. Surgery can also reduce the symptoms, but this is considered a last-resort option for many people.
Side effects and adverse reactions from conventional osteoarthritis medications are well-known. Due to the limitations of these treatments, many people have turned toward alternative options. These include dietary changes, oral supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and turmeric, and topical cannabidiol (CBD) products.
Cannabidiol (CBD) products became widely available in the United States after the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act in 2018, known as the Farm Bill. This bill legally differentiated hemp from marijuana. Marijuana and hemp are closely related plants in the cannabis family. Industrial hemp is now defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana. Marijuana is defined as cannabis with greater than 0.3% THC. Although several US states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency considers marijuana a controlled substance with a high potential for abuse.
CBD is one of the many cannabinoid compounds found within the cannabis plant. CBD is thought to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects in the body. CBD does not have the psychoactive effects of THC. CBD products derived from licensed hemp growers can be legally purchased over-the-counter in most US states, including North Carolina. CBD is available in many product forms including oral and topical (absorbed through the skin) application.
A recent article in the Journal of Hand Surgery evaluated the safety and efficacy of topical CBD for treatment of thumb basal joint arthritis. In this study, half of the patients were treated with 2 weeks of topical CBD cream and the other half were treated with a topical placebo. This was a randomized, controlled trial in which the patients did not know whether they were using the CBD cream or the placebo cream. The patients using the CBD cream reported significantly less pain than the control group, noting a 60% reduction in pain on average. There were no adverse events reported. The study concluded that “twice-daily topical CBD application resulted in improvements in thumb basal joint arthritis-related pain and disability without adverse events.” Additional studies are needed to confirm these results and to determine the safety and efficacy of topical CBD in longer term use.
Many CBD products on the market today do not meet the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) quality standards. It is unknown which brand or concentration of CBD is preferred. Third-party, independent company testing is available to confirm the purity and quality of CBD products. The FDA is also concerned about potential health effects of CBD treatment including liver toxicity, drug interactions, and fertility issues. The FDA has not approved the marketing of CBD for treatment of osteoarthritis.
All current osteoarthritis remedies are aimed at treating the symptoms of arthritis. They do not change the underlying degenerative joint disease process. In 2022, there is still no known “cure” for osteoarthritis. Manufacturers may promise miraculous results, but many medical claims are unproven. Consumers should be skeptical of unrealistic expectations.
Based on recent research, the results appear to be encouraging for short term use of topical CBD products for hand osteoarthritis symptoms. However, the FDA has not approved the marketing of CBD for treatment of osteoarthritis. More studies are required to determine the safety and efficacy of these products.
